Purse Part 2

I decided to make a purse similar to the one I showed you guys the other day (click HERE for that blog) as a Christmas present for my sister. It's the same pattern, with a few minor differences. First of all, it's a tad bigger, because I switched from a 5/8" seam allowance to 1/4" and didn't alter the pattern size. Second, I used a fusible fleece for all of the outside fabric so it's much more cushion-y and protective. Third, the strap is a bit shorter because I actually remembered to measure it, unlike the one I made for myself.
Fourth, I switched to using magnetic closures instead of hand-sew snaps. SO MUCH EASIER. I don't know why on earth I ever bothered with hand-sewing...
And obviously, the fabric is different. This one is a nice light canvas with a black and white toile de jouy print (there's a nice phrase for your foreign-language vocabulary).

My sister suggested I do tutorials on my sewing projects, which I think is a pretty decent idea. So unpack those old sewing machines and brush up on your stitching skills, because in probably about 3 weeks or so I'll be starting to sew again (my whole family is home right now, which means zero time for craftiness) and I'll try to work on some tutorials.

FREELOADERS ARE WINNERS TOO!

Congrats to my first blog contest winner:

EMILY from Emily Loves

I had every intention of having two winners for my first contest, because I had two gifts to give, and thanks to the weirdness of Random Generator...

Well I only had one.

I thought at first that I had messed up, but then I random generated THREE times and got the same number, it wasn't until the fourth and fifth time that I got a different number.

Seriously, I think Emily rigged the Random Generator.

And I'm sorry to those of you who entered and didn't win...

BUT a BIG Thank You for entering!

I don't know how she did it, but she probably did.
She's a pesky blogger.

And now she is a pesky blog contest winner!

Congrats Emily.
I'll email you soon (most likely this Sunday) with information on your items--and to get your address!

Vestidos de Festa: Blake Lively

Para finalizar 2010, decidi fazer um especial com os looks de festa da Blake Lively, uma das celebs que mais contribuem para nosso arquivo! Se, individualmente, é difícil definir um visual que tenha marcado o ano, no "conjunto da obra", com certeza ela é uma das que mais se detacou!

Com um corpo que poderia estar desfilando nas passarelas, ela desfila como uma diva no Red Carpet. E mesmo quando investe em vestidos sensualíssimos, não perde a elegância! Dizem que ela não tem a ajuda de personal stylist, o que a torna ainda mais admirável! Apesar de ter alguns designers favoritos, seus looks variam desde TopShop a até Dior... É fã de looks mini, decotes, transparências, fendas e qualquer tendência que apareça! Aliás, ela já virou uma lançadora de tendências; tudo o que usa vira objeto de desejo!

E, se na vida real seu armário é de dar inveja, como Serena Van der Woodsen o estilo fica ainda mais glamouroso e dramático! Adoro tudo!

Birds

I ordered a few of Geninne's items from Galison.

I LOVE them!

 I gave a few as gifts and kept a few.

The quality is really nice.

CARS BACKPACK

Size :

M - RM28

L - RM31

Size :

S - RM20

M - RM23

L - RM28

MOQ 10 pcs, design boleh campur2

Fashion Week Review - vestidos para mujer moda primavera verano 2011 - Rio Fashion Week

Fashion Week Review: Rio Fashion Week Review Spring Summer 2011

Salinas Swimswear, Graca Ottoni, Cavendish, Auslander, Maria Bonita, TNG, Redley, Blue Man, Lenny, Printing, Alessa, Tótem.

Video:  http://www.youtube.com/user/fashiontv

THIS'LL BE ME--WAS ME LOL

 

...but let's just flip it and reverse it and change it to: This'll be me This was me this year on Christmas Eve.

Seriously.

Me, and a bunch of my friends.

Roland Mouret - Vestidos para Mujer Moda Primavera Verano 2011 - Paris Fashion Week

Roland Mouret Sprimg Summer 2011 Fashion Show Paris Fashion Week

video: http://www.youtube.com/user/maxlinden2630

imagenes: Elle

WEEKEND RECAP

I had an amazing weekend.

For the first time ever, I spent the holidays completely sans family, in the company of friends and new acquaintances.
I really had a blast.

Christmas Eve myself and a small handful of work friends got together at a local sports bar... shared a disgusting shot and tons of laughs.
Christmas day was spent with my coworkers family and family friends eating ridiculously good food and adult egg nog. Oh, and one very intense game of Phase 10--which I kicked ass and won ;)
The day after Christmas was spent with my boss's family from Vietnam--where I was introduced to goat curry, yes, I said goat... IT WAS SO FREAKING GOOD! Seriously! Absolutely delicious!!! As was the wine and the company.
Oh, speaking of the wine... we opened a 2003 bottle of Chateauneuf-du-pape that was freaking PHENOMENAL [I've got a bottle of 2005 and I cannot wait to open it!].

I didn't get any pictures from this weekend... only a few outfit posts pre-leaving the house on Friday and Saturday.
I'll have to post them tonight or tomorrow...  (my Droid is acting funky).

Now I'm heading back to work--yay double! 

Outfit: Cheater

I have a confession: I wore this outfit twice. Eeps!

Now before you start to get disgusted with me for being to high-and-mighty to wear something twice, I feel I should tell you that I do wear things twice. In fact I wear some items in my closet many, many times, some of them so often that you'd get sick of them if I posted an outfit every day. I do not, however, ever wear the exact same outfit twice. I always try to change something, whether that is mixing up the top or bottom with another piece, accessorizing differently, wearing a different tights/shoes combo, any thing to make it look different.

But I guess I was feeling lazy the other day, though, because I found myself reaching for the exact same outfit that I had worn in the previous week. Perhaps my subconscious is just so in love with this outfit that I couldn't help it? Regardless, I did feel guilty enough about the cheat that I whipped up my hair and added a pin. That sorta counts, right?

I'll be gone for the next few days (only until Thursday, if everything goes according to plan). I doubt I'll be blogging any while I'm gone, so to entertain yourself while I'm away: enter my GIVEAWAY if you haven't already, listen to my current favorite band ELBOW, or make something cool with images from VINTAGE PRINTABLE and do a blog on it for me to read when I come back.

Verão: Vestidos de Festa com Sapatos Pesados?

Sim! Apesar de perigosa, a combinação pode dar certo!!! Aqui vão várias idéias de como usar! A delicadeza do vestido contrasta com o peso da sandália e deixa o visual mais moderno e informal! O maior cuidado que se deve ter com esta parceria são as festas mais tradicionais, mas se o evento permitir abuse desta tendência!!!

Music Monday: Elbow

Their Name: Elbow
Their Style: Alternative Rock
Sounds Like/Similar To: Something about their melodies and tunes remind me of Coldplay, but they are pretty unique from the bands I've listened to.

Elbow has been around since before I was born (they played their first show in 1990), and it's a good thing I didn't know that until about 15 minutes ago, otherwise I may have never given them a chance. Their latest album The Seldom Seen Kid has been occupying my iTunes library for probably over a year now without having been listened to once when I finally discovered it for the first time. And, as is usual when I come across a new band that I love, I have been listening to it non-stop for the past week. Their lead singer has a very soulful, somewhat husky voice, and he uses it well to tell the stories that Elbow is presenting.

The main thing I have come to love about Elbow is their lyrics. These are not necessarily uplifting, happy, or moral lyrics, but they are smart lyrics which is more than can be said for most albums these days. A few examples:

"I'm stopping by your place of work and acting like I haven't dreamed of you and I and marriage in an orange grove. You are the only thing in any room you're ever in." -Starlings

"So yes, I guess I'm asking you to back a horse that's good for glue, and nothing else." -Starlings

"There's a hole in my neighborhood down which of late I cannot help but fall." -Grounds for Divorce (not a happy song, but it's so well written! Most people would just have said 'bar')

"I have an audience with the Pope, and I'm saving the world at eight, but if she says she needs me, everybody's gonna have to wait." -An Audience with the Pope

... and they just go on and on. It's so refreshing to listen to something more intelligent than the "I love you, baby/Let's get married" type of drivel that most musicians spew out these days. Perhaps it's because they are older?

While not a lyrical masterpiece like some of the others, One Day Like This is one of the most glorious songs I've ever heard before. Every time it comes on I just want to stand on my bed and shout "HOLY COW, I LOVE YOUR EYES!" at the top of my lungs. Listen to it and I'm sure you will, too.

In addition to their well-written songs, I adore the feeling of the whole CD. I can listen to it from start to finish and feel like I've gone on some sort of journey. It opens beautifully, builds momentum, and then slowly tapers down at the end. Whoever chose the track order for this album deserves a standing ovation.

The Seldom Seen Kid

1. Starlings*
2. The Bones of You*
3. Mirrorball
4. Grounds for Divorce*
5. An Audience with the Pope*
6. Weather to Fly
7. The Loneliness of a Town Crane Driver*
8. The Fix
9. Some Riot*
10. One Day Like This**
11. Friend of Ours
12. We're Away

Well shucks, I starred half of the songs. Can you tell I like this album? They are coming out with a new one in March 2011... you can be sure I will be snapping it up the first second I can.

Minha escolha para o Reveillon

Principalmente nestes últimos meses, quando o vestido branco parou de ser exclusividade das noivas e do Ano Novo, vimos uma quantidade imensa de modelos e estilos lindos!!! Minha escolha não poderia ser diferente: adoro branco, ainda mais para o ritual de iniciar um novo ano!!! Para quem já enjoou do branco (primeiro, repense! tem certeza que não tem umzinho de que não goste??), o metálico é a pedida! E, claro, com qualquer uma das opções, a noite deve ser cheia de amor e paz!!! Um ótimo 2011 para todos(as) nós!!!! Com muitos eventos e vestidos de festa!

Vintage Printable

I was doing some blog hopping the other day and came across Vintage Printable, a 100% free source for vintage images, many of which are available in large sizes suitable for printing out. I love old prints and pictures, so I was thrilled to have a whole collection of them all in one place for me to scoop up at will. Some of my favorites (of the dozens that I've saved so far):
I don't know what I'm going to do with all of my images, but I'll surely think of something fabulous sooner or later. Either that or they'll just clutter up my hard drive for a few months.

The one thing I really am not in love with in regards to this site is the site itself. Horrible navigation, and the flash-gizmo that they use to display their images is enough to make even the soundest of tummies feel queasy. Lucky for everyone, there is a solution to the problem.

Once you click on a category at the top, you should see a page that looks like this. The outlined red box is where the flash player they use is. You will notice quickly that anytime you move your mouse over this flash player, the images inside of it will start swirling around at light speed. Apparently this is supposed to be useful. I just think it's dumb.
They tried their darnedest to hide it, but there is a tiny little link below the flash player that you can click on to disable to it.
The resulting gallery isn't ideal, as you have to open each image individually to view it, but it beats getting motion sickness and upchucking all over your computer.
Click HERE to go to their site.
Have fun browsing! If you think of any fun projects to do with these images, let me know! :)